TORONTO, Aug. 26,
2024 /CNW/ - On August 26,
2024 medical and humanitarian organizations demand the Prime
Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the NDP to enforce
a full and complete arms embargo on Israel in recognition of the ongoing war
crimes and crimes against humanity as well as plausible genocide of
the people of Gaza.
Press Conference to be held on Friday
August 30, 2024 virtually.
We are alarmed that Canada is
engaging in violation of Canadian and International Law by
supplying Israel with
munitions:
The M933A1 120mm High Explosive mortar cartridges with M783
fuzes that are going to be shipped to Israel via the U.S. is illegal under Canadian
and International law. This is in violation of Articles 6(3), 7,
and 11 of the Arms Trade Treaty, as well as Article 1 of the Geneva
Convention." as we cannot disseminate any defamatory content.
Article 6(3) of the ATT, renders illegal the transfer of arms if
there is a reasonable suspicion of use in commission of genocide,
crimes against humanity, war crimes, or attacks on
civilians. A recent press release dated August 15, 2024 outlines the details in
which Canada is complicit in the
transfer of weapons being shipped to Israel despite claims that the arms exports
have been cancelled. Weapons exported to Israel have been used indiscriminately against
civilians and public infrastructure in Gaza. The healthcare system within
Gaza has suffered a complete
collapse and the ability of international charitable organizations
to provide medical relief has been severely impeded.
Over 40,000 Palestinians have been officially killed by the
Israeli army. Starvation is also being used as a weapon of
plausible genocide due to the illegal and immoral blockade on entry
of food, water and medical care. It is estimated that 186,000 or
more deaths are attributable to this current war on Gaza (Lancet, 2024). In June 2024, Save the Children organization
revealed that in addition to more than 16,000 children being killed
in Gaza, a further 21,000 children
are missing including at least 4,000 estimated to be buried under
collapsed buildings or buried in mass graves or burnt alive or
kidnapped.
Due to the incessant carpet-bombing, Gaza is now no longer inhabitable.
Israel's military bombed more than 30 water wells in
Gaza this month including the
Canada Well built by Canadian taxpayers' dollars which was
destroyed on July 29,
2024 essentially destroying any access to clean water
in Gaza. Israel as an occupying force is obligated to
provide protection for the people and the territory it is
occupying. Canada must respect and
uphold the rulings of the International Court of Justice and the
International Criminal Court and cannot supply arms to Israel directly or indirectly through the US.
We cannot continue to be complicit in this war on children.
We demand a full and complete arms embargo on Israel.
Sincerely,
Canadians in Support of Refugees in Dire Need (CSRDN), Jews Say
No to Genocide, Doctors For Humanity (DFH), Justice For All (JFA),
Action 4 Palestine: Healthcare Workers Coalition, United For Peace
– Canadian Interfaith Coalition, Canadian Muslim Healthcare Network
(CMHN), Third Pillar, Medicins du Quebec contre le genocide a Gaza, Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une
Paix Juste, Independent Jewish Voices -Toronto, Ontario Palestinian Rights
Association (OPRA), Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU), Ottawa
Healthcare Professionals for Palestine, Humanity Auxilium, Union of
Medical Care and Relief Organizations-Canada / Union des
Organisations de Secours et Soins Medicaux ( UOSSM)
SOURCE UOSSM Canada